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At summit, AU leaders discuss funding challenges for maternal, child health

African leaders focused on the theme of the 15th African Union (AU) Summit on Sunday: maternal and infant mortality on the continent, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports (7/26).

28 Jul 2010

BMJ News reports on Russia's $15.1B health care overhaul

Russia will undergo a $15.1 billion overhaul of its health care sector, including changes to its medical insurance system as well as health care delivery across the country, according to BMJ News. It is "the biggest reform of its troubled healthcare sector - described by Vladimir Putin, the prime minster, as 'deplorable.'" Russian MPs approved the legislation calling for the change in a preliminary vote in in July.

28 Jul 2010

State governments expect tax collections to grow but still face budget gaps

The Wall Street Journal: "State governments expect tax collections to grow for the first time in two years as tax increases and a recovering economy lead to higher collections. But states are still likely to face at least two more years of financial troubles and about half will see gaps in this year's budgets if Congress doesn't extend special Medicaid payments that were part of the 2009 stimulus act, according to a report expected to be released Tuesday by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

28 Jul 2010

Abortion, other issues continue to stoke the politics surrounding health reform

Politico reports that "the issues of health care and abortion" are making the campaign tough for some Democrats. Among the vulnerable Democrats are Reps. Kathleen Dahlkemper, D-Pa.; Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio; and Indiana Reps. Joe Donnelly and Brad Ellsworth, who is running for Senate. "'We are going to do everything we can to point out that Democrats who said they were pro-life caved on the big one,' said Marilyn Musgrave, a former Colorado congresswoman.

28 Jul 2010

Maryland sees savings in federal health law, for a while at least

Maryland could spend $829 million less than expected on health care between next year and 2020 because of the federal health overhaul law, according to an analysis by a state-convened committee, The Associated Press/Washington Post reports. "The savings, however, last only until the end of the decade, when the federal law shifts a greater share of financial responsibility for Medicaid expansion to the states." The analysis was produced by the state's Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, a panel created by Gov. Martin O'Malley in March (Witte, 7/26).

28 Jul 2010

Industry still making sense of federal e-health regs

Health care industry players are still sorting out the latest regulations on an up-to-$36 billion federal program to encourage doctors and hospitals to use electronic medical records.

28 Jul 2010

Report: Generic drugs offer savings for Medicaid

A new report suggests that expanding use of generic drugs could offer significant savings for Medicaid.

28 Jul 2010

Research on method to open blood-brain barrier for safe cancer drug delivery

One of the human body's most powerful defensive tools, the blood-brain barrier is a chemical labyrinth that prevents toxins and viruses in the bloodstream from reaching the brain. This foolproof security system, however, limits the ability of physicians to deliver drugs directly to the brain, making it difficult to treat brain tumors. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are endeavoring to solve this problem by investigating new methods for bypassing the blood-brain barrier and combating the spread of brain cancer.

28 Jul 2010

WWHI participates in joint meeting to explore barriers to wireless communications, health care solutions

The West Wireless Health Institute today announced its participation in the first joint meeting hosted by the Federal Communications Commission and Food & Drug Administration to explore the potential barriers that may slow the convergence of wireless communications and health care solutions.

27 Jul 2010

Free health, vision and dental screenings for children, adults at Family First Health in York

The Highmark Partners for a Healthy Community will offer free health, vision and dental screenings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 at Family First Health in York. The event is open to children and adults who are uninsured or have minimal coverage.

27 Jul 2010

SBHCS deploys MedeAnalytics platform to automate patient access process of health system

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced that the Saint Barnabas Health Care System has selected MedeAnalytics Patient Access Intelligence solution to automate the complete patient access process of the health system.

27 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 27, 2010

Today's health policy news includes reports about the continuing Senate backlash to Dr. Donald Berwick's appointment to head the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as findings from a new poll that reveal seniors really don't understand health reform.

27 Jul 2010

Studies that compare treatment options for carotid artery disease provide no clear answer, physician reports

A review of scientific studies that compares two treatments for preventing strokes due carotid artery disease provides no clear answer on which treatment is better, a UT Southwestern Medical Center physician reports in an editorial in today's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

27 Jul 2010

SeeChange Health Insurance to offer value-based HSA products to California employers

SeeChange Health Insurance Company, a provider of value-based health insurance plans to employers, will offer a variety of Health Savings Account products in parts of California beginning August 1, 2010. The product launch will make SeeChange Health the first insurance company to offer value-based HSA products to California employers.

27 Jul 2010

New partnership brings latest stem cell discoveries from laboratory to patient

A major research company affiliated with the University of Colorado with expertise in managing clinical trials is partnering with the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus to more efficiently bring the latest stem cell discoveries from the laboratory to the patient.

27 Jul 2010

Economic uncertainty, healthcare issues have hit nation's cardiologists, survey shows

The economic uncertainty and healthcare issues affecting millions of Americans have hit the nation's cardiologists as well, according to a new survey: they are seeing more "baby boomer" patients than ever as Americans get older and demand more care. But they are being reimbursed less for those services by Medicare and insurance firms, in what one cardiologist calls "a revenue roller coaster of uncertainty."

27 Jul 2010

Life-saving interventions can save 11 million African women, children over next five years: Countdown report

In the next five years, 11 million African women and children could be saved by creating near-universal availability of key life-saving interventions, according to The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and the Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010).

27 Jul 2010

President Obama launches new series of television, radio PSAs to mark the 20th anniversary of ADA

To coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act today, President Obama is joining the Ad Council and the American Association of People with Disabilities to launch a new series of television and radio public service advertisements. The ads, which feature the President, celebrate the progress that has been made during the last two decades and remind the public that there is still a lot of work to do so that all Americans have equal opportunity and full participation in this country.

27 Jul 2010

Glaxosmithkline to implement new compensation program for sales professionals

GlaxoSmithKline today confirmed that it will implement a new system for evaluating and compensating its sales professionals beginning in 2011.Under the new system, bonuses for sales professionals who work directly with healthcare professionals and other customers will no longer be based on individual achievement of sales targets, but will be based primarily on the service they deliver to customers. Bonuses will be determined, in part, by customer feedback, and by a sales professional's adherence to the company values of transparency, integrity, respect and patient-focus.

27 Jul 2010

Cash-strapped local governments threaten to hold back payments to N.Y.; Oakland council approves 4 marijuana factories

The Wall Street Journal: "Frustrated by Albany's backlog of unpaid bills, cash-strapped local governments around New York are threatening to suspend their Medicaid payments to the state. Last week, an upstate county announced that it was freezing Medicaid payments to Albany. The move, which was closely watched by other county leaders, may be the start of a broader revolt, as the consequences of the state's chronic cash shortage trickle down to the local level.

27 Jul 2010

Health Care News and Research

At summit, AU leaders discuss funding challenges for maternal, child health

BMJ News reports on Russia's $15.1B health care overhaul

State governments expect tax collections to grow but still face budget gaps

Abortion, other issues continue to stoke the politics surrounding health reform

Maryland sees savings in federal health law, for a while at least

Industry still making sense of federal e-health regs

Report: Generic drugs offer savings for Medicaid

Research on method to open blood-brain barrier for safe cancer drug delivery

WWHI participates in joint meeting to explore barriers to wireless communications, health care solutions

Free health, vision and dental screenings for children, adults at Family First Health in York

SBHCS deploys MedeAnalytics platform to automate patient access process of health system

First Edition: July 27, 2010

Studies that compare treatment options for carotid artery disease provide no clear answer, physician reports

SeeChange Health Insurance to offer value-based HSA products to California employers

New partnership brings latest stem cell discoveries from laboratory to patient

Economic uncertainty, healthcare issues have hit nation's cardiologists, survey shows

Life-saving interventions can save 11 million African women, children over next five years: Countdown report

President Obama launches new series of television, radio PSAs to mark the 20th anniversary of ADA

Glaxosmithkline to implement new compensation program for sales professionals

Cash-strapped local governments threaten to hold back payments to N.Y.; Oakland council approves 4 marijuana factories

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